DECKER AND DOUST CAP A GREAT NIGHT OF RACING AT CAYUGA COUNTY
WEEDSPORT, NY..7/19/98...Billy Decker took top honors in the DIRT Modified feature last Sunday evening at the Cayuga County Fair Speedway, his second of the year at the speedway. Young Greg Doust earned the DIRT Sportsman feature by mere inches over Rick Miller. Also earning wins on the evening were Darryl Saunders in the one-on-one spectator truck eliminations and Tim Hitchcock won the 40-lap enduro race over Ron Hawker and Mike Potts.
The 35-lap modified main event began with an extremely hot Jimmy Phelps. Phelps seemed to be able to put his number 99J high, low and in the middle of the track. He literally blasted into the lead followed by Steve Glover and Chuck Bower. Glover's stay at the front of the field was limited to just one circuit, as he tapped the second turn wall and dropped back into the field.
On lap four the yellow flew when Bobby Varin came in contact with the fourth turn wall. A restart proved fruitless and Bob Melone hit the fourth turn wall and Jim Burke spun out in the first turn.The next yellow would be for the leader.
On lap eight the yellow blinked on a third time when Jimmy Phelps blew the water pump on his car and coasted to a steamy stop in the third turn.
This left Billy Decker in the lead followed by Alan Johnson, Todd Milton and Tim Fuller. Fuller looped his mount on the restart causing yet another caution.
It looked for a while that Alan Johnson would be able to take the victory, as he surged into the lead on lap 11 and 12. But Decker, using the high line , was just too fast, retaking the front spot on lap 13.
A wild spin by Jimmy Horton in the first turn also involved Bob McCreadie and Tom Sears Jr.. The McCreadie car's rear end became hung up on the nose of the Sears ride, forcing tow trucks to separate these two cars. All cars involved were able to continue.
Billy Decker beat Johnson to the finish line by four car lengths, with Pat Ward finishing a respectable third. A distant fourth saw Gary Tomkins cross the finish line just in front of Todd Milton, who recorded a fine fifth place finish.
Post race inspectors were forced to fine Johnson part of his purse for coming in 20 pounds light at the scales. Johnson maintained his position and points.
Greg Doust took the lead in the sportsman feature on lap four after both Shane Donath and Jim LaRock took turns at the front of the field.
On lap 11 the yellow flew, bunching the field together. The yellow was for an accident in the second turn involving Rich Swarthout and Mark Cammuso.
In the closing stages of the race both Rick Miller and Vince Vitale were able to short Doust's lead. Coming off the fourth turn on the final lap Miller pulled to the high side of Doust, creating a drag race for the finish line. Doust took the victory by less then half a car length. Miller recorded a second followed by Vitale, Jim Spano and Mike Button.
This Sunday will be a non-points race for the Modifieds/358 division. A Mr. DIRT Sportsman race should find nearly forty cars on hand to earn championship points towards the Mr. DIRT Sportsman title at the year end banquet.
Joining these divisions will be the enduro and dwarf cars. Race time will be at 7 p.m., with gates opening at 5 p.m..
SAVES-PPG AUTO BODY/MIER TOOL CO./STEVER'S GARAGE/FREEDOM RECREATION NIGHT SUMMARY
SPORTSMAN
HEAT 1: J. LaRock, G. Doust, R. Miller, T. Sears, G. Stage.
HEAT 2: M. Button, M. Cammuso, T. Morris, R. Swarthout, R. Plantz.
HEAT 3: V. Vitale, R. Davis, S. Donath, J. Spano, B. Haws.
CONSI: P. Vigneri, R. Baye, J. Pitcher, G. Morrissette, P. Benz, D. Darling.
FEATURE (20-laps): GREG DOUST, Rick Miller, Vince Vitale, Jim Spano, Mike Button, Gary Stage, Phil Vigneri, Jeremy Pitcher, Rodney Plantz, Ron Davis, Tyke Morris, Gary Morrissette, Bob Haws, Paul Benz, Jim LaRock, Shane Donath, Mark Cammuso, Rich Swarthout, Ryan Baye, Tim Sears.
MODIFIED
HEAT 1: C. Bower, S. Glover, B. Varin, P. Ward, J. Horton.
HEAT 2: J. Phelps, A. Johnson, T. Burnett, T. Fuller, T. Sears Jr.
HEAT 3: B. Decker, D. Johnson, T. Milton, G. Tomkins, J. Gabriel Jr.
CONSI: S. Prentice, D. Ruggles, S. Ridley, J. Burke, M. Ward, J. Hopkins.
FEATURE (35-laps): BILLY DECKER, Alan Johnson, Pat Ward, Gary Tomkins, Todd Milton, Scott Prentice, Tom Sears Jr., Chuck Bower, Jimmy Horton, Steve Glover, Jim Gabriel Jr., Tim Burnett, Darryl Ruggles, Mike Ward, Bobby Varin, Scott Ridley, Jay Hopkins, Bob McCreadie, Jimmy Phelps, Tim Fuller, Jim Burke, Danny Johnson, Bob Melone.